When Lisa earns her much-deserved promotion, she wants to go out and celebrate with her boyfriend, Troy. At the restaurant, Lisa learns that Troy just wants to put on a façade and be the ‘man’—disrespecting her and her hard-earned role. But when he gives his number to a waitress, things take a turn, causing Lisa to embarrass Troy and walk out of their relationship.
It was meant to be a night of pure celebration. After six months at my new job, I had finally earned a significant promotion and was eager to share the joy with Troy, my boyfriend.
He suggested the new upscale restaurant in town, famous for its ambiance and gourmet menu.
“Let’s just get dressed and go out, Lisa,” he said. “We don’t do this very often, so let’s make the most of it.”
I had to agree; we rarely did this—we rarely decided to go out and indulge in anything.
“Fine,” I agreed. “A night out is exactly what we need.”
And I believed that we needed it. Mainly because, as much as I wanted to believe that Troy and I were supposed to last forever, I had begun to see some cracks in our relationship. Something just felt different.
I was happy in my job, but Troy wasn’t happy in his.
“I do so much, but nobody bothers to recognize me,” he said grimly one evening when he came over for salsa night.
Troy sat on the couch and dug his chips into the salsa and guacamole, complaining about work the entire evening.
It was because of his moods regarding work that I didn’t tell him anything good about my job.
“Maybe you just need to give it more time,” I said, handing him a frozen margarita. “You just started there a few months ago.”
“Lisa, please,” he said. “You wouldn’t understand. Let me be.”
But when I had gotten news of this new promotion, there was no way that I was going to keep it to myself. I wanted to celebrate and be celebrated, and I hoped that Troy would want to do just that.
To my surprise, he seemed really excited about it, and he told me that he was proud of me.
“Really, babe,” he said when he came over to my apartment to pick me up. “This is a big deal, and I’m proud of you.”
The evening started beautifully. Troy showed up with a bouquet of flowers, and he sat down and waited while I got ready. Usually, he wasn’t pleased if I was still getting ready when he arrived, but this evening was different.
“Come on,” I said. “I’m ready!”
Troy put his phone away and stood up, leading the way out of my apartment to where his car was waiting for us.
We drove in silence, but for once, the silence wasn’t tense—it was peaceful, and I felt that maybe Troy was changing. That he was becoming someone who wanted to be here and be present with me.
The soft lighting and the stunning view of the city skyline from our table set a romantic backdrop for our evening. We toasted to my success, with Troy raising his glass of champagne high.
“To the most amazing woman I know,” Troy cheered, clinking his glass against mine. “And to many more successes to come.”
“To us and to the future!” I echoed, suddenly caught up in the moment.
We went through the menu and ordered our meals while Troy spoke about the shared dreams that we had—from the Bali holiday that we had been speaking about for a long time, to wanting to move in together soon.
“I just think it’s time,” Troy said. “And now that you have your promotion, it will be much easier for us.”
Everything went along well, until the waitress brought our food over. Troy kept glancing at her, hoping to catch her eye—he winked at her twice.
I didn’t want to make a scene about it—Troy did this whenever he had something to drink. He behaved as though being a flirt was second nature.
But then, as we neared the end of our meal, I noticed a change in Troy. His usual easy smile tightened when the check was brought to our table. He smiled at the waitress as she stepped aside.
“You should let me pay with your card,” he said, a strain of insistence in his voice.
I was surprised. On the one hand, I didn’t mind paying for the dinner because it was my promotion and I was making a lot more money than I had before. But at the same time, I had also hoped that Troy would want to spoil me for the night.
“Why can’t you use your own card?” I asked, surprised by the frown on his face.
Troy’s irritation was barely concealed.
“Clearly because you’re the one who got promoted, and I don’t have enough money for these fancy dinners, Lisa! You know that, and yet you act like you don’t.”
I was confused by his logic.
“I’ll just pay with my card,” I said, putting my handbag on the table. “It’s not a big deal.”
My boyfriend’s face hardened as he took a sip of his whiskey—he had switched from champagne halfway through the meal.
“It’s embarrassing, Lisa,” he said. “It’s like you’re actually trying to humiliate me by not letting me be the man who pays.”
I didn’t know how to react to Troy’s words. It didn’t make sense to me. And I couldn’t understand what the waitress had to do with who was paying for our meal.
I would have retaliated and stood up for myself, but I could feel my energy being drained by Troy.
I felt cornered. And because I wanted to avoid making a scene, I reluctantly handed over my card.
Troy smirked and picked up my card, signaling for the waitress with an exaggerated flourish, presenting my card as if he were performing a grand gesture.
“I’ll be right back with the card machine,” the waitress said.
Feeling uneasy, I excused myself to the restroom. I just needed a moment to be myself. Troy did this all the time. But I thought that the evening was going well and that he was changing.
Of course, I was wrong.
Before thinking it through, I pulled my phone out and logged onto my banking app. With a few swipes and clicks, I had blocked my card.
Let’s see him pay now, I thought to myself.
On my way back, I paused near the bar, my attention caught by Troy’s laughter from across the room.
He was flirting openly with the waitress, scribbling something onto a napkin—presumably his phone number.
He handed it to her with a wink. I was stunned. I was hurt. A rush of indignation surged through me.
I returned to the table as the waitress spoke.
“I’m sorry, but there seems to be a problem,” she said. “Your card was declined.”
Troy’s confident façade crumbled as he stammered, turning away.
“What?” he asked. “Surely that can’t be right.”
Feigning concern, I suggested that Troy call the bank.
He sat back in his chair and pulled out his phone, dialing the bank and putting the call on speaker.
The representative asked for the card number, which Troy read off my card, followed by a request for the account password.
Finally, Troy hesitated. He was at a loss.
“Okay, Sir,” the person said through the phone. “If you can verify the last three transactions, it would help.”
The waitress hopped from one foot to the other.
“I can answer that,” I said. “A lavender-scented candle, some skincare products, and a new book. And Sir, the name on the card is Lisa Simmons.”
The waitress’s expression cleared with understanding, and Troy was left floundering for a response.
I then pulled out another card and paid the bill myself.
“Lucky I have two cards,” I told Troy and the waitress. “But babe, since you enjoyed the service, I think you can get the tip.”
Troy, red-faced, scrambled through his wallet, pulling out only expired coupons and a few small bills.
I stood up, waiting for Troy to say something—anything, but he sat there tight-lipped.
“Hey, I didn’t take his number,” the waitress said, a smirk playing on her lips. “I just threw the napkin away.”
“I’ll find my own way home,” I told Troy as I walked out into the night.
As I walked outside, I didn’t know if I had made a mistake. But at the end of the day, no relationship should make a person second guess themselves or make them feel like celebrating themselves is wrong.
Which is something that Troy did all the time.
I think I’m finally done with him.
What would you do?
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When Kyra discovers, by accident, that her boyfriend, Henry, has been cheating on her, she goes completely numb. Until he sends her an invoice for everything that he had ever spent on her. Fueled by her anger, Kyra fights back, exposing Henry for who he is and asking for her monetary rewards in return.
I Asked to Be Cut from My Parents’ Will after Overhearing My Brothers’ Conversation
When Elena’s parents decided to leave her the family home, she expected her brothers to share in the joy. Instead, their hidden resentment leads to a revelation that changes everything. Will her decision to reject her inheritance heal old wounds or create new ones?
A mother playing with her little girl in bed | Source: Pexels
Growing up as the youngest and the only daughter in a tight-knit family had its perks and its challenges. But mostly, I felt cherished, surrounded by my parents and two protective older brothers, Kyle and Dean.
A big brother hugging his little sister | Source: Unsplash
It was the kind of childhood you’d think was straight out of a feel-good movie—complete with raucous holiday gatherings, summer barbecues in our backyard, and the kind of parents who never missed a school play or a soccer game.
Children playing with bubbles outdoors | Source: Unsplash
Last weekend was no different in its familial warmth, or so I thought as we gathered around the dining table, the familiar scents of mom’s cooking mingling with the soft murmur of catch-up conversations.
A close-up photo of family members toasting at dinner | Source: Pexels
Our parents, though noticeably grayer and more deliberate in their movements, were as spirited as ever, their eyes twinkling with a kind of excitement you’d associate with kids planning a secret clubhouse meeting.
An elderly couple spending time with each other | Source: Pexels
As we settled into the comfortable rhythm of passing dishes and sharing updates, Mom and Dad exchanged a glance—a silent nod that seemed to signal it was time for the ‘main event’ of the evening.
Food served on a brown wooden table with chairs and plates | Source: Pexels
Clearing his throat, Dad announced, “We’ve been thinking a lot about the future, especially about this house, which has been a home to so many memories for us.”
An elderly man speaking to his family members at the table | Source: Shutterstock
Mom took over with a voice both soft and resolute, “We’ve decided that we want Elena to have the house in our will.”
The words landed on the table with a weight I hadn’t anticipated, stirring a mixture of surprise and gratitude in me. “Really?” was all I managed, my voice a mix of shock and a burgeoning sense of responsibility.
A close-up shot of a woman looking over her shoulder | Source: Pexels
That’s when I noticed it—the poker faces on Kyle and Dean. As our parents continued discussing the details, my brothers clapped mechanically, their smiles not quite reaching their eyes.
Something in their expressions hinted at a private joke or a shared concern, hidden just beneath the surface of their orchestrated calm.
Family members dining outdoors | Source: Pexels
Trying to shake off a growing unease, I nodded and thanked my parents, though the look in my brothers’ eyes—hinting at something hidden—stayed with me.
After everyone had said their goodnights and the house quieted down, the small twinge of unease I felt earlier began to settle into the pit of my stomach.
A distressed woman sitting alone on a sofa | Source: Shutterstock
I chalked it up to the big announcement and tried to focus on the comforting familiarity of my childhood home. Since Mom wasn’t feeling well and had asked me to stay the night, I settled into my old room, the walls lined with memories of a more carefree time.
A vintage alarm clock and luminous lamp placed on a bedside table | Source: Pexels
It must have been past midnight when I tiptoed downstairs, the floorboards creaking softly underfoot. I just needed a glass of water to calm an inexplicable restlessness that had me tossing and turning.
But as I neared the kitchen, the low murmur of voices halted me mid-step. It was Kyle and Dean, their words floating out to me, clear in the stillness of the night.
A woman sitting on a sofa while holding a glass of water | Source: Pexels
“Our sweet baby Elena must be enjoying all the attention, right, brother?” Kyle’s voice was laced with a sarcasm I hadn’t expected.
“Of course. She’s such a goody-two-shoes. Always wants to make Mom and Dad happy. Her sweetness is too much to handle,” Dean responded, his tone mocking.
A man laughing while holding a cup of coffee | Source: Pexels
Kyle laughed, a sound that seemed to slice through the quiet. “Hahaha! Let her have that house! Let her think that she’s won the grand prize. But if only she knew…”
Dean joined in, his laughter mingling with Kyle’s, “I know, right? She has no idea what she agreed to! Now she’ll have to care for our older parents, be their nanny, and stay around them 24/7.”
White kitchen cabinets | Source: Pexels
“Poor thing! I feel bad for her. Imagine her life as a parent sitter while we’ll be happily chilling and going to parties with no responsibilities,” Kyle added, his tone dripping with faux sympathy.
A close-up photo of a woman crying | Source: Pexels
Stunned and deeply hurt by the conversation I’d accidentally overheard, I made my way back upstairs, each step heavier than the last. My mind was racing, emotions swirling into a storm of betrayal and disappointment.
By the time I reached my parents’ room, my decision was made. I couldn’t bear the thought of my future being a topic of mockery or an unwelcome burden cleverly offloaded onto me.
An elderly couple hugging | Source: Shutterstock
Knocking softly on their door, I entered. The dim light cast shadows across their concerned faces.
“Mom, Dad,” I began, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside, “I need to talk to you about the will. I’ve thought about it, and I want you to cut me out completely. I don’t want the house or any part of the inheritance.” The words tumbled out, a mix of resignation and resolve.
A person signing their last will | Source: Shutterstock
They looked at each other, then back at me, confusion and worry etched in their expressions. “But why, Elena?” Dad asked, his voice thick with concern.
I shook my head, unable to disclose the real reason, the hurt still too raw. “I just think it’s better this way. Please, let Kyle and Dean have it.”
A depressed woman hiding her face with her hands | Source: Shutterstock
Without waiting for their response, I grabbed my things and left, the night air cold against my tear-streaked cheeks as I headed back to my apartment. The drive was a blur, my thoughts loud and chaotic.
The next morning, as the sunlight streamed uninvited into my apartment, my phone rang. It was Mom. “Elena, what happened last night? Why don’t you want the house anymore?” Her voice was gentle, probing for answers I wasn’t ready to give.
A worried senior woman talking on the phone | Source: Shutterstock
I paused, collecting my thoughts. “I think it’s best if Kyle and Dean have the house. I don’t need anything in return to care for you and Dad. I want to do it because I love you, not because I expect something back,” I replied, my voice more confident than I felt.
An old man with a hearing aid | Source: Unsplash
True to my word, over the next few months, I devoted myself to caring for them. Despite their numerous ailments, their old age, and increasing fragility, I was there.
A woman holding an ailing elderly man’s hand while sitting beside him | Source: Shutterstock
Whether it was doctor’s appointments, grocery runs, or simply spending time with them, watching old movies, I made sure they felt loved and cared for. My heart may have been bruised, but it was not broken—not when it came to my parents.
Several apples lying beside a brown paper bag and a pack of bread | Source: Pexels
Life has a way of unfolding that you can never predict. Just two months after deciding to devote myself fully to my parents, I faced the hardest goodbye: we lost Dad.
The grief barely had time to settle before, a month later, Mom followed, leaving me in a world without them.
People attending a burial | Source: Unsplash
It was a numbing whirlwind of loss that felt both cruel and unbearable. Yet, during those months, the bond we fortified through care and shared moments became my solace.
As expected, Kyle and Dean inherited the house. I wasn’t there to see it transferred, but I heard about what happened next in a surreal, almost unbelievable sequence of events.
Assorted hanging paper lamps outside a house | Source: Pexels
A few weeks after they moved in, my brothers decided to throw a massive housewarming party. I wasn’t invited, but the news traveled fast and furious, much like the fire that ended the night.
Two persons holding glasses filled with beer | Source: Pexels
From what I pieced together, the party was in full swing—loud music echoing through the halls where we once played hide and seek, laughter and clinking glasses filling rooms that still echoed with remnants of our childhood giggles. But then, tragedy struck.
A flare of fire engulfing a building | Source: Pexels
Amidst the revelry, a fire broke out. It was a huge, engulfing flame, sparked by a short circuit, something so small yet so destructive. The house, our family home filled with memories, was consumed by fire, reducing everything to ashes within hours.
My brothers, thankfully safe, watched helplessly as the physical connection to our parents vanished into smoke.
Children’s photos hanging on a wire | Source: Unsplash
Meanwhile, before all this, I took with me not just the heartache and the bittersweet memories but also tangible pieces of my childhood.
The blanket Mom sewed for me when I left for college, the photos of us at various stages of life, the scrapbook Dad and I had spent countless Sundays decorating—these were my treasures. But there was one more surprise waiting for me, something neither my brothers nor I knew about.
A scrapbook lying on a white cloth | Source: Pexels
In the quiet aftermath of my parents’ passing, as I was sorting through some of their belongings, I found a small, unassuming box. Inside it was a large, beautifully cut stone that shimmered with a light of its own.
A small gift box decorated with a red ribbon | Source: Pexels
Curious, I had it appraised, not expecting much. To my utter shock, it was a rare gem, worth a small fortune. It seemed my parents had left me a keepsake, a final gift, ensuring I had a piece of them that carried both sentimental and significant value.
A teardrop-shaped amethyst stone | Source: Unsplash
So, here I am, reflecting on the whirlwind that’s been my life these past few months. I sit, the gem catching the sunlight, casting colorful reflections across the room, each a memory, a moment of love shared with the two most important people in my life.
My brothers might have gotten the house, but fate had other plans for that inheritance. I, on the other hand, ended up with something far more precious.
A depressed man hiding his face with his hand | Source: Pexels
So, dear readers, do you think I was right to ask my parents to remove me from their will? If you were in my position, faced with such revelations from siblings, what would you have done? Sometimes, the real value of things isn’t in their appearance but in their true meaning.
A woman lost in her thoughts while driving | Source: Shutterstock
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